It is learned from the news coverage of May 11, 2019 that 2 militants died in a clash between security forces and HPG militants in rural areas of Hatay on April 30, 2019.

It is learned from the news coverage of May 14, 2019 that, 1 militant died in a clash in Kutudere area of Tunceli on May 9, 2019.

(05/163) Restriction of Access to Health of an Academician for Not Being Given His Passport…

It is learned from the news coverage of May 14, 2019 that Professor Haluk Savaş, who have cancer and thus wants to go abroad for treatment, was not given a passport. It is reported that, Haluk Savaş, who was dismissed from public duty by a state of emergency decree, was acquitted by the court where he was judged on the charge of “being a terrorist organization member” and that the court has lifted the ban on leaving the country; however, his application to Adana Governorate for a passport was rejected. It is also stated in the news reports that Haluk Savaş was recommended to “write to Presidential Communication Office declaring his health reports”.

(05/164) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…

It is learned from the news coverage of May 14, 2019 that in Burhaniye T Type Prison, radios, magazines and newspapers belonging to prisoners were seized after a search at the wards.

It is learned from the news coverage of May 14, 2019 that, in Burhaniye T Type Prison, prisoners who are on hunger strike demanding end to isolation of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, reject health controls because their regular pulse and weight checks were not included in these controls.

It is learned from the news coverage of May 14, 2019 that Eziza Yağız, a prisoner who is on hunger strike since March 1, 2019 in Mardin E Type Prison was transferred to Tarsus Women’s Prison under coercion.

It is learned that prisoners in Şırnak T Type Prison sent a letter to Human Rights Association (IHD) Şırnak Branch on May 2, 2019, and stated that their social activity rights were being restricted, medical treatments of ill prisoners were not conducted regularly and some of the belongings of prisoners were seized by prison administration. In addition, HRA Şırnak Branch, HRFT Cizre Center, Şırnak Medical Chamber and Health and Social Service Employees Union (SES) Şırnak Branch made a visit to Şırnak T Type Prison on May 9, 2019 and that it is learned through the interviews made by prisoners that 8 prisoners were subjected to disciplinary proceedings and as a result of these proceedings, weight, blood pressure and blood sugar checks of the prisoners on hunger strike were not done since May 1, 2019.

The police intervened the press declaration of public labourers who had been dismissed by a state of emergency decree and have been struggling 917 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on May 14, 2019 at 13.30 and 18.00.

It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on May 14, 2019, 2 people (Mahmut Konuk and Nazan Bozkurt) and at 18.00 2 people (İlker Işık and Nazan Bozkurt) were detained.

Thus in total 4 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on May 14, 2019. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.

(05/166) Police Intervention Against a Protest in Istanbul…

Nursel Tanrıverdi and Selvi Polat who make a sit-in protest at Bakırköy Square on May 13, 2019, to regain their jobs from which they had been dismissed by state of emergency decrees and who were detained by the police intervening the protest, are arrested by the court on May 14, 2019. Nursel Tanrıverdi and Selvi Polat were arrested and released 4 times by the court so far, and were acquitted on 6 different cases opened against them.

(05/167) Police Intervention and Prevention Against Protests in Kocaeli, İstanbul, Diyarbakır and Batman…

The protest of prisoners’ families and members and executives of political parties, about the hunger strike in prisons, which was to be held in front of Gebze M Type Prison on May 14, 2019, is prevented by the police on the grounds of governorate’s ban. It is learned that the police seized cameras of journalists watching the protest and gave them back after deleting the footage of the protest.

The police prevented the protest of prisoners’ families and members and executives of political parties, about the hunger strike in prisons, which was to be held at Koşuyolu Park in Bağlar district of Diyarbakır on May 14, 2019.

18 people who were detained by the police intervening the sit-in protest of prisoners’ families and members and executives of political parties, about the hunger strike in prisons, in Esenyurt district of Istanbul on May 13, 2019, are released after statement procedures at the police on May 14, 2019.

It is learned that People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Batman MP Feleknas Uca was subjected to police violence during the police intervention against the protest of prisoners’ families and members and executives of political parties, about the hunger strike in prisons in Batman on May 13, 2019; and that she was injured due to police violence. 11 people were detained in police intervention.

(05/168) Detained Journalist and ESP Member in İstanbul and Antalya…

On May 14, 2019, journalist Soner Karabulut and 5 members (Gülsen İmre, Ulaş İmre, Deniz İmre, Eren Mehdi Şen, Okan Gündüz) of The Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) including Sultangazi district chair Gülsen İmre are detained in house raids in Istanbul through an investigation against ESP members. The reason of detention is unknown.

On May 14, 2019, 2 members of ESP are detained in house raids Antalya. The names of detainees are: Vedat Oğuz and Aziz Özdoğan.

(05/169) Detained People in Urfa for Social Media Posts…

On May 14, 2019, 13 people are detained in house raids in Viranşehir district of Urfa, on the grounds of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation on social media’.

(05/170) The Cases Against Academics Who Are the Signatories of the Petition “We will not be a party to this crime!”…

The case against Research Assistant Hazal Halavut from Boğaziçi University for signing the petition “We will not be a party to this crime!” on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 32 for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ is held on May 15, 2019. The court adjourned the trial to June 19, 2019.

The case against Assoc. Professor Süreyya Karacabey from Ankara University for the same reason is held on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 24 on May 15, 2019. The court decided to send the case to Ankara Heavy Penal Court on the basis of lack of venue.

(05/171) HDP MP On Trial…

The case against 35 people, including HDP Hakkari MP and Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Co-chair Leyla Güven and PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s siblings Mehmet Öcalan and Fatma Öcalan, for the events organized for Abdullah Öcalan’s birthday on April 4, 2017, is held on Urfa Heavy Penal Court No 6 on May 14, 2019. The court decided to send the case against Leyla Güven to the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office for review due to her being an MP and adjourned the trial to May 23, 2019.

(05/172) Police Officer on Trial in Diyarbakır…

Şahin Öner has died in Diyarbakır, on February 20, 2018, due to being hit by a police armoured vehicle during demonstrations to protest Abdullah Öcalan’s being taken to Turkey. The case against police officer S. K., driver of the armoured vehicle, on Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 1, for ‘wilful murder’, is held on May 14, 2019. The court decided to conduct a reconnaissance of the crime scene with all witnesses and the defendant and adjourned the trial.

(05/173) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…

The case against Fatih Polat, Evrensel newspaper executive editor, on the charge of ‘insulting the President’ in his article “What do respondents say about the allegations about Erdoğan family?”, started to be held on Bakırköy Penal Court of First Instance No 31 on May 14, 2019. After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to September 17, 2019.

(05/174) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…

On May 14, 2019 31 people are detained through an Ankara based investigation against Army Aviation Command personnel; 16 people are detained in operations covering 6 cities through an Adana based investigation; 14 people are detained for using ByLock and having accounts at Bank Asya, in operations covering 5 cities through an Izmir based investigation; and 7 people are detained for using ByLock in Ankara.

(05/175) Penalty to a TV Channel…

It is learned from the news coverage of May 14, 2019 that Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) decided to cease the broadcasting of the newscast of TELE1 channel for 2 days, on the grounds of broadcasting the speech that HDP co-chair Sezai Temelli made at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.

[1]The reports on the human rights violations of the Documentation Center are claims unless they are certified. The claim of violation either is certified through thoroughly investigations of HRFT Documentation Center, including by judicial verdicts, and becomes a definite data or it is not included to the annual report.

[2]To subscribe to the e-mail group: please write ‘daily human rights reports subscription application’ to the title of your e-mail and sent it to dokumantasyon@tihv.org.tr.